Pianist/composer Eunha So is an artist with a strong focus on creating relatable melodies and well-produced tracks inspired by genres as diverse as jazz, neo- classical composition, and cinematic scores alike. In 2019, she dropped a new album titled Reminiscence. This project is very nuanced and heartwarming, with a classic flavor, that still retains a unique twist. The sound of this production has got a nice punch to it, but it also has a softer and sweeter edge to it, making for a really balanced feel. The artist’s piano playing is incredibly nuanced. She can seamlessly explore the silence between notes, meaning that she doesn't always feel the need to use every available space in the music. She understands the contrast between sparse melodies and more labored parts, giving the music a truly exciting dynamic range.
This talented pianist displays accomplished technical skills, but at the same time, she definitely plays music that comes straight from the heart. The album features 8 studio compositions, including the stunning opener, “Swings’ Starlight.” One of my personal favorites on this release happens to be “Dream Hopper,” because I really enjoy how the song takes on a different turn with a full jazz-band arrangement, going for a classic vibe. The song “Moving Castle” is also very special. The piano creates a truly hypnotic rhythm in conjunction with the drum kit, which is incredibly nuanced, having a fantastic musical range that goes from quiet, snare rim clicks, to roaring cymbal bursts. This album combines the tenets of great jazz music with the sophistication of modern piano composition, creating a fascinating mix of different influences informing the artist’s beautiful and far reaching music. The songs on Reminiscence are quite personal, spontaneous and evocative, and I also love the fact that all the songs are relatively similar in length, ranging from five to six minutes per song. This enables each song to have the same weight on the album.
If you are a fan of Giovanni Allevi, Ryuichi Sakamoto, or Nils Frahm, I would definitely recommend this one. So is all about great textures and interesting sounds, and Reminiscence is a solid example of how these things come together to absolute perfection.
This talented pianist displays accomplished technical skills, but at the same time, she definitely plays music that comes straight from the heart. The album features 8 studio compositions, including the stunning opener, “Swings’ Starlight.” One of my personal favorites on this release happens to be “Dream Hopper,” because I really enjoy how the song takes on a different turn with a full jazz-band arrangement, going for a classic vibe. The song “Moving Castle” is also very special. The piano creates a truly hypnotic rhythm in conjunction with the drum kit, which is incredibly nuanced, having a fantastic musical range that goes from quiet, snare rim clicks, to roaring cymbal bursts. This album combines the tenets of great jazz music with the sophistication of modern piano composition, creating a fascinating mix of different influences informing the artist’s beautiful and far reaching music. The songs on Reminiscence are quite personal, spontaneous and evocative, and I also love the fact that all the songs are relatively similar in length, ranging from five to six minutes per song. This enables each song to have the same weight on the album.
If you are a fan of Giovanni Allevi, Ryuichi Sakamoto, or Nils Frahm, I would definitely recommend this one. So is all about great textures and interesting sounds, and Reminiscence is a solid example of how these things come together to absolute perfection.
